Conductor support



Dec. 20, 1949 R. P. HANNA ET AL CONDUCTOR SUPPORT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJan. 25, 1945 lNV ENTORS ATTO EY Aaymond Bhanna and Leland/QBrahmer:

WITNESSES:

Qfi-MM O N O wN Dec. 20, 1949 R. P. HANNA ET AL 294913731 CONDUCTORSUPPORT Filed Jan. 25, l-945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES: INVENTORS ajMONO P 7a 7777a and Leia/1a f7 Bra/727762".

Patented Dec. 20, 1949 CONDUCTOR SUPPORT Raymond P. Hanna, Pittsburgh,and Leland F.

Brahmer, Wilkinsburg, Pa., assignors to Westinghouse ElectricCorporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of PennsylvaniaApplication January 25, 1945, Serial No. 574,496

9 Claims.

Our invention relates, generally, to trolley conductor supports and hasreference, in particular,

to curved segments for use in overhead trolley conductor systems.

Generally stated, it is an object of our invention to provide animproved trolley conductor support for overhead trolley conductorsystems which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and is easy toinstall and maintain.

More specifically, it is an object of our invention to provide foradjustably connecting an elongated conductor support member to apull-off member intermediate the ends thereof and for connecting tensionmeans between the pull-01f member and the support member by means of endmembers pivotally connected adjacent the ends of the support member.

It is an important object of our invention to provide for pivotallyconnecting end members adjacent the ends of a conductor support in acurved segment and adjustably connecting tension members between the endmembers and pulloff means secured to the conductor support intermediatethe ends thereof.

Another object of our invention is to provide for using a pull-ofi platein a curved segment construction having a substantially open part at theend remote from the conductor support so as to permit threadedlyadjusting tension means relative to the pull-off means.

Yet another object of our invention is to provide for connecting tensionmeans between a pull-off member and the ends of an elongated laterallybendable conductor support by means of end members pivotally connectedto the ends of the conductor support and provided with means forsecuring the tension means thereto in substantially the horizontal planeof a trolley con ductor secured to the support.

It is also an object of our invention to provide for using a flexibletension member adjustably connecting the ends of a laterally bendablecurved and are provided with means for maintaining them in differentpredetermined angular relations thereto. The other ends of the tensionmeans pass through openings in the side walls of projecting end of thepull-01f means, whereby an adjustable connection may be made by means ofnuts threaded on the ends of the tension means projecting through theopenings.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of ourinvention, reference may be made to the following detailed descriptionwhich may be studied in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a partial plan view of a curve construction for a trolleyconductor system embodying the invention in one of its forms;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of an end member taken alongthe line IIII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the end member taken along the lineIII-III of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 1, showingthe pull-off member in side elevation;

Fig. 5 is a plan view to a reduced scale of a curve constructionembodying the invention in another of its forms;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevational view of the end member shown inFig. 5; and

Fig. '7 is an enlarged side elevational View of the pull-off member inFig. 5.

Referring to Fig. 1, the reference numeral ill may denote, generally, acurve construction for use with overhead trolley conductor systemscomprising a pair of trolley conductor supports or segments H which maybe connected together by means of insulator devices I2 for supporting apair of trolley conductors (not shown) in spaced end curved relation.Since the supports H are substantially identical in construction and maybe used separately where only a single trolley conductor is concerned,the description will be ap plied in detail to only one of the supports.

As shown, the support or segment I I may comprise an elongated laterallybendable curved conductor support member 14 to which a trolley conductor(not shown) may be secured alon the lower edge for guiding a currentcollector thereon by means such as the clamps l5, which may bepositioned therealong in spaced relation. The conductor support memberl4 may be positioned in operating relation in the trolley conductorsystem by means such as the pulloiT means ll which maybe positionedtransversely of the support member and be adjustably secured theretointermediate the ends thereof by means such as the stud bolt l8 whichmay be welded or otherwise secured to the support member II and a nut!9.

The support means l1 may, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, comprise a channelshaped member having a central portion -.with upwardly projectingflanges 2| adjacent the edges. The central portion 2|] may be providedwith an elongated opening 22 therein for receiving the stud bolt 953 indilTerent operatin positions. In order to provide for supporting theconductor support in the trolley conductor system, means, such as theopenings 24, may be provided adjaoentthe ends of the support means l!for attaching-securing means thereto.

With a view to positioninggt-hesupportmember l4 and applying thesupporting forces th eretojn substantially the plane of a trolleyconductor which may be secured along the lower edge of thesupportmemben-thesupport-means 1 1 may be dished longitudinally so thatthe central portion in whichthefslot ope'ning22 isprovided will beraisedzabove thelevel of-the depressed end portions 25 andrZfi. "I-he-en'd.portion"26 Onthe-convex side of the curved conductor support-maybeprovided .with-asubstantially open harp defined byithe diverging:sidefianges 2| which may be provided with an enlarged central opening:21 therebetween. YSuitableopenings28-may be providedin the flanges 2'lcommunicating with the central opening'fl in substantially the:horizontal plane of a trolley conductor on the conductor support for areasonwhichwwill ;b. explained-hereinafter; in detail.

.I o d o ovid rfo mainta n e s pport member 1- 1a ;-pr d ;e minedcurvature t on mb r ma zbeu i ized fo adjust-ab y n tin h :en .o h suort m mber M to the projecting end 26 of the pull-off means, H. Thetension members.;3!l -may;eomprise elongated rods of steel or any othersuitable material having threaded end portions :3 2 disposed to :extendthrough the openings in :the side flanges 2| into the central opening21. Nuts 33 may be provided on the ends of the tension means foreffecting ,an adjustable connection with the .pull-off means IT. Theother ends ofthetension membersfiilmay beprovided with ,threa'ded'portions 34 for effecting a connectiontorend members 35, wherebytheymayibeponnected to the conductor support adjacent thaends thereof.Means such as the rivets ,36 may be provided for preventing thetensionmembersfrom turningrelative to the end members.

.As shownin Figs. .1 ,,2.and 3, the end members 35 may each comprise.an'.elongated downwardly inclined central body portion .3] having .asubstantially horizontal flange 38,adjacent theupper end with an openingtherein .forreceiving connecting nieans,;such.as the bolt40 secured tothe support member [4, whereby .the end member ma be D 0 a lv bnn e ithe sunliort meme diacem the v v 'fen .aIihrsaded-ppenin 43 maybe pdedjn ubstanti ll the horizonta p aneo' thetrolle conclugto seguredt th19W er ed o supno membe 1; [iQ e eivin the adede d o the.tenslonmemberfifl A tr n rs pe nggimw be provided. ntone Junc w t t O ein 4 forre e yin the rivet 36 tol ck hete is qn membe in th op nn Th bodpo ion may a so .be provided Withan e ens o avin a substant a ly ho izota flan e .5 adjacent the P r QQ LR -Q'L R 15 hil- Yiqeli i h 5% sla ted2 3 291 port member I l and the tension member 30. An ear 5 l,lmay beprovided adjacent the lower edge of" the deflector which drops off fromthe flange .gfitoward thetension member 30 to provide for ireenforcingthe deflector against damage by blows from a dewired current collector.

As shown in dotted outline, the curvature of the supportmemberld may bereadily varied by changing the position of the central portion thereofrelative to the pull-off means I? by positioning the bolt [8 in'diiferent positions in the longitudinal slot 522. ;At the same'time thepositionof the nuts,.33;on thethreaded ends of the tension members 30should'be changed to provide for diiferent positions of the ends ofjthesupport .mcmber M relative to the projecting end 26 0f the pull-offmeans. Atthe same time the-position-of the bolt t! in the slot 46 0ftheiend member .35 maybe adjusted so as to provide for the-change inangular relations between :the tension member and theend portion oftheconductor support it. Upon the adjustment of the support member L4 tothe desiredcurvature, the nuts -33 may be locked together .on thetensi0n members, and the .nuts and the bolts [8 ,and 4 may be tightenedso astosecure,thesupportmember in the desired curvedrelation.

Referring to Fig. 157,7,the reference numeral .52 may denote, generally,,a curveiconstructi'on for trolley.conductorsystems,whereina pair oftrolley conductor supportsiii may be positioned'in spaced relationjbymeans of insulator device [2 for supporting a pair of trolley conductors(not shown) in predetermined spaced relation.

The conductor supports 53 may comprise elongated laterailybendablecurved support members M provided with clamps l5 for securing trolleyconductors (not shown) theretojin predetermined operating relationalong'the,1ower edges thereof. The support members l4 maybe positioned in theoverhead systembymeans of pull-oii members 54 whichmay beadjustablysecured thereto intermediatethe ends and maybe provided withtension means ;55 for maintaining them in predetermined curvatures.

Thepull-ofi members 54 may, as shown in Figs. 5 and '7, be ofsubstantially similar construction to.the pull-off means l1 described,in connection with Figs. 1 and 4 ofthe drawings. Instead of having asubstantially open part adjacent the projecting endof the convex side ofthe support member with openings therein for;securing the tension means,as described in connection with Fig. l, the pull-off members ,54 may beprovided with projections 56,on the lowervsides adjacent the ,proiectinsends, having curved saddle o tions'iil with lip portions 58 associatedtherewith for receiving the tension means 55.

The tension means 7'55 maybe secured to the support members M adjacentthe ends thereof by means of end members 60 whichmay-be generallysimilar to the end members 3 5 described in connection with Fig. 1 ofthedrawing. As shown inFigsb and 6, the end members '60 maybeprovidedwith openings '62 similar to the threaded c sting .4 9 th an membe 5 excp ii that the openings 62 extend through the lower end of the bodyportion 31, and are provided with set screws 64 for adjustably securingthe tension means therein.

In accordance with this embodiment of my invention, the tension means 55may comprise a single relatively flexible cable, wire, bar or the likehaving the end portions secured in the openings 52 in the end member andhaving the central portion thereof positioned by the saddle 51 on thelower side of the projecting end of the pull-off member 54. Byadjustably positioning either one or both ends of the tension member 55in the openings 52, and adjustably positionin the boits l8 and i! whichsecure the conductor support to the pull-off means and to the horizontalflanges d5 of the end members, respectively, the curvature of thesupport members M may be readily changed and maintained at any desiredpredetermined curvature.

From the above description and accompanying drawings, it will beapparent that we have provided a simple and effective manner foradjustably connecting the ends of an elongated curved conductor supportmember to pu1l-off means connected intermediate the ends thereof. Bypivotally connecting the end members to the conductor support member andproviding for changing the angular relations therebetween, and forsecuring the end members and the conductor support memher in differentangular relations, a curved conductor support is provided which isreadily adjustable to different curvatures and may be substantiallyrigidly maintained in any particular curvature to which it may beadjusted. Our construction provides a conductor support which isadjustable over a relatively wide range of different angles of curvatureand is at the same time both simple and inexpensive to manufacture anddurable in operation.

Since certain changes may be made in the above described construction,and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all the mattercontained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawingshall be considered as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim as our invention:

1. A trolley conductor support comprising, an

elongated support member adjustable to different curvatures, means forsecuring a trolley conductor in predetermined relation to the lower edgeof said member, pull-off means projecting to the convex side of saidmember intermediate the ends of the member, connecting means adjustablyconnecting the pull-off means intermediate the ends of said member,tension means extending from the projecting end of the pull-01f meanstoward the ends of the body member, and end members each having one endconnected adjacent one end of the support member and provided withconnecting means adjacent the other end adjustably connecting said otherend to the support member intermediate the pull-off means and the end ofthe support member to secure different angular relations of the endmembers with the ends of the support member for connecting the tensionmeans thereto.

2. A trolley conductor support comprising, an elongated laterallycurvable support member, means for securing a trolley conductor alongthe lower edge of the support member for guiding a current collectorin apredetermined path, pull-off means adjustably connected to the supportmember intermediate its ends and projecting to the convex side thereof,and means adjustably connecting the projecting end of the pull-off meansadjacent the ends of the support member including tension meansconnected to the pull-off means, and end members pivotally connected tothe support member adjacent its ends and adjustably secured to thesupport member intermediate its ends and the pull-off means so as to bepositionable in different predetermined angular relations with the endsof the support member.

3. A curved segment for a trolley conductor system comprising, anelongated laterally curvable body member, pull-off means adjustablyconnectable to said member intermediate its ends and projecting to theconvex side thereof, means for securing a trolley conductor inpredetermined operating relation with the lower edge of said member, andmeans connecting the projecting end of the pull-off means adjacent theends of said member including tension means extending from theprojecting end toward the ends of said member, and end members pivotallyconnected to the said member adjacent said ends, adjustably connected tothe said member intermediate said ends and the pull-off means, andconnected to the tension means.

i. A trolley conductor device comprising, an elongated laterallycurvable metal bar having means for securing a trolley conductor alongthe lower edge for engagement by a current collector, pull-oi? meansadjustably secured intermediate the ends of the metal bar and projectingto the convex side thereof, and connecting means connecting theprojecting end of the pull-off means adjacent the ends of the barincluding tension means secured to the projecting end of the pulloffmeans and end members pivotally connected adjacent one end to thesupport member adjacent its ends, and connected adjacent the other endto the support member intermediate the pull-01f means and the end of thesupport member so as to be securable in diiferent angular relations withthe ends of the bar, said end members having portions between the barand the tension means for deflecting a d'ewired current collector fromwedging in the angular space therebetween.

5. A curved construction for an overhead trolley conductor systemcomprising, a laterally bendable elongated support member having meansfor securing a trolley conductor along the lower edge, pull-off meanssecured intermediate the ends of the support member and projecting tothe convex side, means connecting the projecting end of the pull-offmeans and the ends of the support member including tension meansadjustably connected to the projecting end of the pull-off means, andend members adjustably connectable adjacent the ends of the supportmember and connecta'ble in different relative positions to the supportmember intermediate its ends and the pull-off means for securing the endmembers in different angular relation therewith.

6. In a curved segment for supporting an overhead trolley conductor, asupport laterally bendable to different curvatures and having means forsecuring a trolley conductor along the lower edge, pull-off meansadjustably secured to the support intermediate the ends thereof andprojecting on the convex side for supporting the segment, means foradjustably connecting the projecting end of the pull-off means and theendspf the support in different predetermined relations includingtension means connected to the projecting end of the pull-off means, andend members pivotally conheated at on endte thes mpor n the u per ideadia n the; e ds r th su o t and having de n ent po tions in substa a ythe s hori. ta p an as the trolley conductor for fecting connectionstQths tension means, said end members having horizontally extendingflanges with adjustableconnecting means operableto secure theend nemberstothe support intermediatethe pulleofi-means and the ends of the supp t-7. A trolley conductorsupport comprising, an elongated conductor supportlaterally bendable to different curvaturesand having means for securing.a trolley conductor along the lower edge thereoi for engagement by acurrent collector, a pull-oil member adjustably connectedto thesupport-intermediate the ,endsthereof and having a portion extendingtothe convex side thereof provided with substantially vertical flangemeans having openings therein,end members pivotally a connected tothesupport adjacent the ends and provided with adjustableconnecting meansfor eonnecting the endmembers to the support intermediate the pull-offmember and the ends of the support for-positioningthe en'd members in.diiferent angularrelationswith the support, and tension membersconnected to'the-end members having threaded endportions projectingthrough openings in the flange means and provided with adjusting nutsforvarying thecurvature of the upp rt- 8. Atro-lley conductorsupportcomprising, an elongated: conductor support bendable laterally todifferent curvatures, meansfor securing a trolley ponductoralong. thelower edge. of the support for engaging iacurrent collector, a pull-offmember positioned transverselypf the support intermediate the ends andprojecting'to the convex side thereof saidpull-off member having arelatively fiat portion adjacent'one end with an elongated slot foradjustably receiving securing means on the upper edge ofthesupport andan enlarged depressed portion adjacent the other end having acentralopening therein defined by divergent side Walls with vertical sideopenings therein, end members having elongated body. portions pivotallyconn c ed at n en adiee et the e softhe up.- port and adjustablyconnected thereto toward the ther e s. d e d m ans b n p v e wi hlaterally dependent side portions extending sub? stantially to thehorizontal plane of the trolley conductonand tension members formaintaining different predetermined curvatures of thesupport having oneendtsecured to the dependent side portions and having a threaded portionon the other end projecting into the central opening through saidvertical side openings and provided with adjustable stop nuts.

9. A curvedsegment for a trolley conductor system comprising, anelongated support bendable in'a horizontal plane to different curvaturesand having means for securing a conductor along the lower edge, pull-oi?means positioned intermee diate the ends of the support and extending onthe convex side, said pull-off means being provided with a curvedsaddleportion adjacent the projecting end, endmembers secured to thesupport adjacent the ends of the support, and a flexible tension memberadjustably extending from one end member to the other around the saddle,said tension member being adjustablysecured to at least one of theendmembers.

RAYMOND. P. HANNA. LELAND F. BRAHMER.

REFERENCES QITE The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

